The Power Of Surrender – David ShearmanSample

All We Need

There are many passages in the Bible that are still beyond my revelation and understanding. As a preacher, I am all too aware of my limitations in the face of these Himalayan Bible peaks. I read them, I believe them, and I only teach them according to my level of faith and never try to be too clever.

After a sublime opening, Peter in his second book produces the sort of passage I have just described. He writes about God’s power giving us everything we need to participate in the divine nature. He promises that if we follow the instructions of the passage, we will never fail, and will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Wow! That is still a bit beyond me. So, taking my own advice, I will make three simple observations and leave you to work on them, as I continue to do myself.

1. God is offering His divine power to help us experience a glorious transformation as He places His divinity inside our humanity. What a gift!

2. Peter is teaching that we have a profound responsibility to continue to grow this new nature, adding to our faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. We are to possess these qualities in increasing measure. What a challenge!

3. In being “eager to make our calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10) by living out points 1 and 2, we are assured of success: “you will never fail” (v10) and we “will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom” (v11). What a promise!

The only thing left for me to say is this: keep receiving “his very great and precious promises” (v4). These are the gifts we need to grow in order to reach our goal. The rest of the mountain is still ahead of us! As C. S. Lewis has said, “Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ, and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”